Why did we decide to put these fools in charge?

It is interesting times we live in when a local auto dealer's radio commercial uses the Presidents name and the US Government to guarantee the auto warranty. Did anyone ever think it would come to this?

Look, I will concede to Bush haters that he did some funny stuff and made some mistakes. Nobody is perfect, we all do that. But to have a President's name invoked in an auto dealer commercial almost seems a bit comical and below the Office of the Presidency. I know it isn't Obama doing it but it is his decisions that feed the idea for the commercial.

And that is the most important thing. President Obama's decisions since he has taken office have been dreadful. Look at all the bad appointments and waffling decisions. Here is a quick list:

Appointing numerous tax cheats
Floating the idea of having war vet's personal insurance pay their medical for war related injuries
Releasing the so-called "torture" memos
Shaking hands with Hugo Chavez
Telling Turkey we are not a christian nation
Bowing to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
Napolitano calling vets possible terrorists
Hillary's reset button
Saying that the US invented the automobile

The list could go on and on but I think I made my point. Why have as a nation decided to put these folks in charge? Seriously, this is getting embarrassing to watch. And what is even worse is how the media pushes how good of a job Obama is doing. I will just start calling him bumbling Obama.

Here is a funny video I found. I personally think it would be worse than this if the government was running the auto warranty department.

Call to websites: Favorite stock market website

Post in the comments your favorite on-line website to watch the stock market...

Call to apps: RSS Reader - cross-platform

What is your favorite CROSS-PLATFORM RSS reader?

Update in the comments...

thanks

People who know, know I am a Bears fan

After the announcement of the Bears trading some draft picks and Orton to Denver for Cutler, I have finally ready a post from a source showing that, for the long haul, this deal is NOT A BAD ONE for the Bears.

Cutler, age 25, is a Pro Bowler... a statistical accomplishment that Orton would not make in Chicago... and can be again... and again... and again. For the NFC.

Let's look at what the NFC posted for Pro Bowl QBs in 2008 -

• Arizona Cardinals QB Kurt Warner - ok. I think I would be in contention with the receiver corp to work with in AZ.
  
• Drew Brees - yeah, the number of yards, etc., WTF?
• Eli - I am a little sick and tired of hearing how "golden boy" this cat is in the grand scheme.
  

Now, the Bears NEED a receiver... a real number one... to provide Cutler with that specific threat to make sure that point are on the board. This will allow the defense to get aggressive and go for the extra interception or sack.

As a Bears fan, the next great thing would be to pull a trade for a Fitzgerald caliber receiver. That would be the end all of the be all to the greatest offensive season in recent (read 40+ years) of Bears history.

What are your thoughts on the trade? Next steps for the Bears?

Reid: Obama casino rule "nonsensical"

Snip of a letter from Sen. Harry Reid to President Obama
"A couple of specific examples are illustrative of the problems caused by the overly broad language. The Department of Justice-Office on Violence Against Women's Transition Housing Assistance Program offers funding to provide victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking supportive services such as short-term housing assistance. In many Nevada rural communities the only hotel rooms available are in casinos. The overly broad restriction deprives victims of a safe place away from their attackers."

Nevada rural communities is not specifically defined to a location, but the following maps.google.com search shows 4 pages of searches with "+hotels -casinos Las Vegas NV".

Link to Map

Why not have the funds go towards establishing better shelters - or new shelters - if there is THAT much of a need to support various activities that normally are only designated as "casino" activities.

Another snip...
"...which has created a unique environment in which hotel/casino complexes are often the most appropriate venue for certain activities, particularly holding public events such as community outreach events, Parent Teacher Association meetings, domestic violence trainings, and other workshops."

Can't these meetings be held in schools, churches, and the like.

Another search for "+meeting -casinos las vegas nv" (LINK) shows 5,000+ locations.

There are so many other options that don't require the involvement or intervention of the casinos. What would the supposed people he is looking after have done without this stimulus money? Keep the money that can be used for casino based meetings and subsidize additional meetings in non-casino venues.

Done. Everyone is happy.

Next topic.

Now I know what these guys feel like

Firefighters

PCLinuxOS 2009.1 - A Taste of an Old Friend

Much time has past since I ventured away from the *buntu namespace for my home Linux adventures. I converted to Linux from Windows XP/Vista/whatever about a year ago. The main stay for me moving to Ubuntu 8.10 was the inclusion of and easy configuration of:

• Wireless for more than WEP, specifically WPA Enterprise
• Dual-monitor support
• DVD/CD burning software that REALLY worked for my two different types of burners
• External media
  
• Better USB support - this is specifically for my cell phones. I really (REALLY) require my computer to be able to natively charge my cell phone through my USB cable
  
• Printing support - I love the fact that I connect my HP to Linux and the printer fully detects not only the printer, but the scanner as well
  

I have used, in the past, Kubuntu and Xubuntu. I have always fallen back to Ubuntu because the Gnome interface just makes more "sense" to me. The layout is, well, more intuitive and enjoyable (IMO). Although, I am not the biggest fan of the default panels at the bottom and top.

After checking out the details on the latest build of PCLinuxOS, I decided to play with the LiveCD of PCLinuxOS 2009.1. My goal was to check on what was new in this distro but not necessarily to fully replace my installation of Ubuntu 8.10.

Here is the link to the distro site:
http://www.pclinuxos.com/

After about 10 minutes in 2009.1, I could not double click the "Install" icon on the desktop fast enough.

Some key items that pushed me over:

• I decided KDE may be ok to "push" through... force myself
• Dual-monitor support was EASIER than Ubuntu
• Wireless was EASIER to get setup than Ubuntu
• Software packages were more up-to-date. An example is Open Office - 3.0 instead of 2.4
• Flash was all set
• Java as well
• Wallpaper - I dig being able to select different wallpaper for each of my monitors... that adds to the cool factor
• Konqueror - I am liking Konqueror more and more (I wish I could get this up and running on Windows)

I'll continue to post information about the distro and my experiences. Such as "this doesn't work" or "that". Things I find cool... whatever.

Save the newspapers?

I was reading through the following article and found myself curious about the intent and breadth of the nationalization of every industry unable to shift with the economic times and wondered, yet again, "Where's my bail-out?"

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/16/MNIA16GCBO.DTL

I started with the understanding of how my wife and I started in our holy matrimony and what steps have resulted in a vast change to the way we use the newspaper.

WAAAYYY back in the day, my wife would buy multiple newspapers, specifically Wednesday and Sunday, in order to accumulate multiple coupon offerings.

As we moved forward with technology, we were no longer burdened with requiring an actual coupon to save $.25 on a box of mac-n-cheese. The grocery stores were able to move their sales to a key fob type setup where either through the off-shoot coupon or the key chain store card, we were able to save a bunch on the "sale" items.

Technology plays an important piece in the newspaper landscape. The main intent, from my understanding, is to provide the news in written form and report on events from the last 24 hours. The hard copy newspaper is simply outdated and archaic.

Until recently, I was limited to only MY COMPUTER to be able to log into any newspaper website and peruse the articles and see information about what is going on in that entities community - regardless of size. This can include national newspapers - like U.S. Today or the local scribe, the Star Tribune. All of that being said, even for the bus, I haven't bought a newspaper in over five years.

Why?

One reason is that cellular companies have migrated the need for paper news to bits and bytes. Also, the same stories on on the digital version of many newspapers and magazines. I now get PC World via a link from my email. I no longer receive a hard copy version... I am fine with that. It saves me cleaning the old copies off of the back of the toilet.

Speaking of bathroom reading: Now that I have swung over to the G1 from T-Mobile (friends say I am ADDICTED!!), what is the point of a printed newspaper. Worse yet... NAY, a better question... WHY attempt to save the newspaper if that newspaper is not able to create a 21st century business model that keeps them equitable and contemporary? What is the intent behind Pelosi's drive?

Oh wait - it's left wing... correct? And in her district?

2009 Newspapers Filing Bankruptcy


Philadelphia Inquirer
Philadelphia Daily News
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/23/business/media/23philly.html

Star Tribune (in Minneapolis)
http://www.startribune.com/business/37685134.html

Now, the article starts "House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, worried about the fate of The Chronicle and other financially struggling newspapers...", but never discusses what other entities SHE is worried about.

Can someone... anyone... provide what SHE is attempting to do for the greater good and position herself as a respected Speaker of the House? Outside of picking and choosing what hometown businesses to attempt to save by making use of her title and influence. I thought the left saved that for right wingers.

And yeah, I take my G1 to the shitter. Never know when you are going to be in there longer than the norm and need a little brick-breaker to pass the time. Go F^&$# yourself...

:)